Top Pot Hand-Forged Doughnuts plans to open a drive-thru Issaquah location as early as next month — a first for the Seattle-based pastry purveyor.

Cofounder Mark Klebeck said Top Pot intends to upgrade Rowley Properties’ existing building at 1235 N.W. Maple St. — a round structure most recently occupied by Mondo’s Espresso — near the Issaquah Transit Center.

The iconic structure’s Mid-Century Modern design and proximity to the transit hub appealed to the Klebecks.

Wildlife experts advise caution as local sightings increase

Bears take refuge in a Sammamish Plateau tree during a May sighting. By Bent Wiencke

State Department of Fish and Wildlife agents responded to a bear in a home last week, after a surprised Issaquah woman discovered the animal pawing around inside a locked garage.

The incident underscored the need for education about black bears as the close encounters between humans and bears start for the year.

State wildlife officials and organizations remind residents in Issaquah and other communities near bear habitat to take precautions as soon as possible to limit the potential for dangerous encounters.

Bear Awareness Week is observed in Washington through May 21.

The incident relating to the bear in the garage is the latest sighting in recent weeks as bears started to emerge from hibernation early last month.

Issaquah School District administrators spotted bears near several campuses in April and May, including Cascade Ridge, Clark and Newcastle elementary schools. Police received a call about a bear at the downtown Issaquah Salmon Hatchery in late April.

Residents have reported frequent sightings in neighborhoods throughout the city. In the latest example, Issaquah police officers received a call at 11:43 a.m. May 10 about a bear inside a garage in a tree-lined neighborhood near the Sammamish Family YMCA, not far from Providence Point.

Freebies will be available for veterans and active-duty military personnel as the nation marks Veterans Day.

Brown Bear Car Wash will thank military veterans and men and women serving in the armed services Nov. 11 with a free carwash.

The free carwashes are also offered to spouses who have a military spouse who is deployed. The local Brown Bear is located at 22121 S.E. 56th St.

The offer will operate on an honor system and no verification or documentation will be required. Drivers should identify themselves to the wash attendant as a current or former member of the military.

“Our organization is proud to honor veterans and service personnel,” Brown Bear president, founder and Marine Corps veteran Vic Odermat said in a news release. “While the washes are free, we know that freedom is not. This is a way for us to show our support and gives us a unique opportunity to say thank you to people who sacrifice so incredibly for our freedom.”

Krispy Kreme will honor service men and women by giving away doughnuts to all veterans and active-duty military personnel. Veterans and active military personnel are invited to visit any Krispy Kreme store in Washington to enjoy a free doughnut of any variety.